The Noble Queen-A Shadow Slave Fanfic

The early morning hours passed quickly as the couple did their best with the information that they had.

Fort would need to check and recheck many facts before proceeding, but Noble's fresh set of eyes gave him some perspective on possible avenues to pursue.

That was assuming others in the government would agree with his findings and help with his efforts.

Even if they didn't, Fort would do what he could to delay tragedy or stop it altogether.

Though if the Sovereigns were dead set on fighting one another, there was little hope of accomplishing the latter.

Noble tapped her chin as she sipped at her second cup of tea for the day.

"Workers will be needed for these roads as well, right? Could you get government funding to supplement the salaries of those who will be connecting citadels? Then the Clans would be forced to sink more money into their other projects if they want workers to take on the riskier..."

"Mom? Dad? What are you doing up this early?" Rain came down the stairs with a yawn.

"What else? Saving the world!" Fort flashed a tired grin.

Rain stared at them a moment. "I see..."

Noble gave her husband a meaningful glance. A flash of confusion crossed his face before he nodded in understanding.

"I heard you did your part in saving the people of Ravenheart as well:"

"You did?" Rain straightened her back, flicking her eyes to her mother and back to her dad.

Fort held up the final piece of meat that still lingered on his plate. "I tasted it too. You may not get your sense of adventure from me, but your cooking skills? You have learned well at the feet of Chef Fort."

His face became serious.

"Good job. On the food and the hunt."

The teen's shoulders relaxed so much that the girl looked like she might turn into a puddle.

"Thanks, Dad."

Noble wiped a tear from the corner of her eye and coughed lightly.

"I don't know about you two, but I think we should fry up what is left of that meat for breakfast. If that's alright with you, Rain."

"That's fine with me!" The teen hurried to fetch the meat for the pan. "I heard about this recipe, Mom. Could you tell me if you think it would be any good?"

"Are you sure you don't want to ask your father?" Noble cut her eyes at her husband. "He is the culinary expert in the family."

"I would rather him judge my work when it is all through... if that works for you, Dad!"

Fort's eyes crinkled. It had been a long time since he had seen that kind of warmth from his daughter, and it touched him in a way he couldn't describe. "Whatever you decide, sweet girl, I support that choice."

The two locked eyes. Rain's quizzical expression said it all.

Did he mean what he was saying?

Rain had always valued her father's approval, and after months of delicately avoiding certain topics, she was hesitant to believe that he might be offering any more than approval of her cooking.

But he held her gaze and nodded. "I love you." 

"Even if I'm a little crazy?" Rain prodded. 

"Even if you are a lot crazy." Fort took another bite of the jerky. "But I may have to reconsider my investments in orange meat, if you keep bringing home quality game. It might become a conflict of interest." 

The teen's lips tilted upward as she tied back her hair. "I'll try to make the decision easy for you." 

While the ladies prepared breakfast, the twins got up and took a morning run. Noble hadn't asked what made Blaze start going out early with his brother, but she suspected the cute girl who sometimes joined them had something to do with it. 

By the time the boys returned, the papers had all been put away and the family enjoyed a morning meal. After six months in the Dream Realm, the children had grown accustomed to the lack of electricity and wintry weather all year.

If their friends back in the NQSC could see the kids eating food from an old metal stove, washing clothing in a fancy bucket, and reading at night by candlelight, they would likely pity their former classmates. Yet Brock, Blaze, and Rain were happy with the lives they were living. 

Things were simple, sure, but they were by no means boring. 

"I think I am going to build a clock like the one on the wall and put it in my bedroom," Blaze announced over the meal. "I wake up all the time worried that I am late for class and I have to come down to make sure it isn't time to get up." 

"You are worried about being late for school or being too late to see Joan?" Brock innocently placed a bite of food in his mouth. 

"I don't know what you are talking about," Blaze lied, his cheeks burning. 

"I'll see if I can find a kit next time I am in the NQSC. Are you sure you don't want me to buy you one instead?" Noble offered. 

"No," the younger twin shook his head, "I think I would like to build it myself." 

"You mean you would like to build it with Joan." Brock prodded with a wink. 

"I would not!" Blaze shot his brother an angry glare. Then he added more casually. "Why? Did she mention me to you?" 

By the time the meal was complete, everyone had places to be. The boys were off to school, which had been welcoming students to their completed facility for a couple of months now. Fort left for work to check all of the things he had talked about with Noble, and then try to contact the proper authorities. 

And Rain...well, Rain was going somewhere secret as usual. After a few days inside of Ravenheart, Noble guessed she would be back in the wilderness for training. 

So the group parted ways at the door, each wishing the others well. Fort kissed his wife's cheek. 

"Good luck today. I know everything will go smoothly." 

"Thank you. I'm sure it will be fine." Noble hugged her husband and accepted his well wishes. "You be safe too." 

Noble didn't say the rest of what she wanted, but Fort understood. 

"I'll be careful like always," he assured her. 

Fort had been burned by Agent Mitt during the discovery of the Chain of Nightmare Gates in Antarctica. Since that time he had become even more careful with who to trust with information. The professor had faith that he would be wise. 

Noble would need her own wisdom today. 'I have to get going.' 

The streets were fuller than Noble had ever seen as she headed out. More people from the outskirts still came in daily. Soon the NQSC would have no one left in the slums surrounding it. 

Noble couldn't blame them. The jobs and opportunities in Ravenheart and Bastion were a chance at a fresh start. The extra workers made the landscape of the city change at a staggering pace. 

Each time she looked, there seemed to be a whole new street of houses or a city square of shops that popped up overnight. While the waking world was losing occupants, Ravenheart was experiencing a population boom. 

But Noble wasn't walking down the street to take in the new and familiar places. Like her family, she had somewhere to be. And that place had cost her dearly.